Timberlake big winner at MTV Video Music Awards

Justin Timberlake was the big winner at the MTV Video Music Awards on a night that saw the return of Lady Gaga to the stage and a brief reappearance of the 'N Sync group.

Sunday night's event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn featured Timberlake winning Video of the Year honors for "Mirrors," as well as the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for lifetime achievement.

Taylor Swift won the prize for Best Female Video with "I Knew You Were Trouble," while Selena Gomez came away with the Best Pop Video award for "Come and Get It."

Another winner was the duo of rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis, which took two awards (Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Video with a Social Message) for two different numbers.

Lady Gaga opened the ceremony singing her latest release - "Applause" - appearing first in a white gown with her face poking through a big white square that recalled a nun's habit.

Though 'N Sync had only got back together for one performance, in 2003, after the group broke up in 2002, the quintet sang only one number, "Bye Bye Bye," to the disappointment of the fans they still have.

Other performances were offered by Katy Perry, who closed the evening, One Direction, Kanye West, Bruno Mars and a twerking Miley Cyrus, who seemed to be competing with Lady Gaga for the most scandalous costume and spectacle. EFE